Chapter 79 - Sincerity
Few Months Earlier (January 2018)
"Please?" Elijah begged for the third time, following me all around the house.
"Elijah," I sighed. "I don't feel like it."
I plopped down on the couch, and he sat down beside me.
"Please? It's just for a coffee. We haven't hung out in forever. And Rachael will be there too, so what's the problem?" He insisted.
"I just... I can't," I replied.
His face fell completely, and he looked down in his lap.
"I thought we were friends now, Aliza. If you do not like talking to me, or you don't want anything to do with me, just say so please. I don't wanna be in a friendship where I'm not at all wanted. Right from the beginning, from the time you were in Paris, you have been treating me like I'm just some random dude hitting on you or something. If you have a problem with me, with something I do, just let me-"
"Elijah," I cut him off, feeling immensely guilty. "It's not that. None of it. Look, I know that you have feelings for me."
His eyes widened, and suddenly, he was the one looking guilty.
"You... You do?" He asked.
"Yeah, and I'm sorry, but I just don't feel the same way. I'm pretty sure that a future isn't possible for the two of us, and trust me, you deserve better. Someone who is full of life and happy, like you. Not someone like me, who is so lost in her past life that she can hardly make sense of anything. You're an amazing guy, you're good looking, you've got a great sense of humour, you're sweet, caring, everything a girl could ask for. But I'm just not up for anything of this sort, and I don't wanna lead you on. That's it. I'm sorry if I made you felt unwanted, I just don't wanna end up hurting you the way I've been hurt once," I explained.
He listened to me patiently, and then nodded in understanding.
"I get that. I understand. But Aliza, that doesn't mean we cannot be friends, right? We are grown up, mature people, and I'm pretty sure I can handle my feelings. I swear I won't ever do anything inappropriate, if that's what you're afraid of," he said sincerely. I couldn't help but chuckle at his words.
"Alright," I smiled. "I trust you. Yes, we can be friends."
"So... Coffee?" He grinned.
"Let me change," I laughed.
- - - -
I changed into a casual outfit, and did my hair and every-day make-up. Before leaving, I decided to call Shadrach and let him know that I was going to hang out with Elijah and Rachael. Normally I wouldn't tell him if I was going out, but since a guy was involved, I just felt he should know about it. Plus it was not like I was going to ask him. I was only going to inform him. He never told me who he hung out with, and I never even asked. It was his life and he was allowed to enjoy in his own ways.
I selected his contact from my recents, and waited for him to pick the call up. However, the line was busy. I tried again five minutes later, and once again it was busy. There was a knock on my door, and then Elijah asked me how much longer I was going to take.
"Five minutes more!" I replied, before trying Shadrach's phone once again. He still did not pick up, the line was busy. I left him a text, asking him to call me as soon as he sees my message. I didn't mention Elijah in the text, because I didn't want him to immediately freak out and start fighting with me as soon as he called. I'd slowly ease it into the conversation and also send him a picture of Rachael being there with us.
"Aliza?" Elijah knocked again.
"Coming," I replied, and opened the door. He took one glance at my outfit, and smiled at me.
"You look great," he complimented.
"Thanks," I smiled back.
"No, seriously. I mean, if you compare it with what you looked like half an hour ago..." He trailed off, making a dramatic face.
I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to suppress my own smile, and he burst out laughing.
"Sorry," he muttered, chuckling.
"It's okay," I replied, laughing as well. "Let's go."
We left for Starbucks in Ash's car, and Elijah called Rachael on the way. He spoke to her for a few minutes, before hanging up.
"She'll be there in fifteen," Elijah told me.
We reached Starbucks and sat at a table for three, while waiting for Rachael to show up. I checked my phone, and Shadrach had still not called me back or anything.
"So, what are your plans for the future?" Elijah asked, placing his elbows on the table and leaning his chin on his palms.
"Really? That question?" I raised an eyebrow, smiling.
"I'm sorry," he chuckled. "I can't think of anything else to talk about."
"You tell me. Do you have any special talents?" I asked him.
"I can read palms," he smiled proudly.
"Hah, fraud," I laughed.
"Try me," he shrugged, sitting up straight.
"Okay, what does my palm say?" I raised my eyebrows, extending my hand towards him.
"Hmm," he hummed, narrowing his eyes slightly, and he gently held onto my hand, by my fingers, to probably see the lines more clearly. He frowned, blinking at my palm, but before I even had the chance to ask him what happened, something was slammed onto our table. I flinched and withdrew my hand, and so did Elijah. As soon as I saw what the object was, my eyes widened, and my mouth parted. I looked up to find Shadrach standing there, staring at Elijah with rage in his eyes, while his gun was placed on our table. It didn't take me long to realize that a few of his men were with him too.
I instantly stood up.
"It's not what it looks like," I said, and Shadrach's furious gaze now shifted to me.
"Excuse me, man, is there some problem?" Elijah asked politely, also standing up. He didn't look that scared of Shadrach for some reason. I had expected him to be freaking out at the sight of the gun.
"Yes, you fucker. You're the problem!" Shadrach yelled, pushing Elijah by the chest. Elijah stumbled slightly, but not to a very huge extent.
"Shadrach!" I yelled, moving to stand in front of him. "Stop it," I said softly.
"Stop it?" Shadrach asked, taking hold of my wrist. "You're fucking asking me to stop it? What the fuck are you doing with him here? You're on a fucking date?" He yelled so loudly, I flinched, and tears instantly pricked my vision.
"Shadrach," I said softly. "Please. Calm down."
"Are you fucking sleeping with him, Aliza?" He yelled.
"Bro you're crossing your limits now," Elijah said, stepping forward.
"Elijah," I said softly. "Please. Stay out of this."
"Who is this, Liza?" He asked.
"You have the guts to ask who I am?" Shadrach said in disbelief, picking his revolver up. "Aliza, tell me. Right now. Are you sleeping with this shit?"
"Shadrach, stop this," I said softly, trying to keep my calm. Everyone in Starbucks was staring at us, a few people running out in panic, while others trying to record videos and watching the drama unfold.
"Answer my question!" He yelled.
"Enough!" I now yelled back, and tears rolled down my cheeks. "I am not going to answer that, Shadrach," I said through gritted teeth.
"Well then, this man is about to die," he replied, loading his gun.
"You hurt him, and I'll never forgive you. I swear on my brother, Shadrach," I said.
"What will I do with your forgiveness if you're fucking this asshole?" He replied, and I couldn't take it anymore. So I slapped him. For the second time in my entire life, I slapped him. Shadrach and all his men looked so shocked, it was as if some disaster had happened. I heard a gasp from the right, and looked to find Rachael at the entrance of Starbucks.
"Look at her," I said to him, pointing at Rachael. "She was going to be here with us," I whispered, my voice breaking. "We were... We were having a friendly hangout. That's all we are," I whispered, before breaking into sobs. "Friends, Shadrach. But you and your twisted, sick mind, you're never going to understand what friendship is! Because you've never had any friends of the opposite gender, have you? Because you've screwed each and every girl who wasn't too afraid of you. And you dare to question me for something like that?" I asked, shoving him away by his chest. He now looked guilty, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"How dare you question my sincerity?" I asked. "You planned an engagement in my absence, whilst I spent my time depressed over you, not in the right mind to talk to any boy, not even glancing at anyone, and you're questioning my loyalty?" I sobbed. "And in such a disrespectful way..." I whispered at the end.
"Butterfly, I-"
"Don't!" I pointed my index finger at him, tears still escaping my eyes. "Don't call me that ever again. Do you understand?"
"Aliza-" he tried again, stepping towards me, but I stopped him again.
"Don't come near me," I warned. "Did you, or did you not receive my text? Where's your phone?"
"I did," he said, looking down at the ground.
"Why did you not call me?" I asked. He did not reply. "Shadrach. Why did you not call me?"
"I'm sorry," he said softly.
"Because you wanted to catch me red handed," I nodded, biting my lip. "This is what I wanted to tell you, Shadrach," I whispered. "That I was going out with Rachael and Elijah. I felt that you should know if I'm going out with a guy, even if it's on a friendly hangout. But you have such a sick way of thinking, that you just wanted to doubt me. You didn't even call me back."
"I'm sorry, Aliza. I'm really-"
"I'll ask you one question, and I want the truth. How did you know?"
"Know what?" He asked.
"How did you know I was at Starbucks?" I asked.
Once again, his gaze shifted to the floor.
"You're having me followed again," I said softly, nodding, as another tear rolled down my cheek.
"Alizabeth I-"
"Don't," I said softly. "Just... Don't."
"We're leaving," Rachael said, as she came forward and took my hand. "Elijah. Let's go."
Not uttering another word, the three of us left Starbucks, and this time, Shadrach did not dare to stop me. He had messed up big time, and I was disheartened by his actions, I didn't even wanna see him ever again. The way he had publicly accused me of being disloyal, he had publicly humiliated me. That is not how you treat someone you love. How dare he have me watched again? I was done. I was done with him. I wiped my tears away and sat in my car, anger replacing the sadness now. I was never going to forgive him for what he did, and how he behaved with me.
I didn't even know what I felt about him anymore. It felt like all the positive feelings I had for him had suddenly just been stripped from my heart, replacing them with a rage and an indifference. I was so, so hurt, that I couldn't feel anything.
Just when I thought things were better.
Once again, he ruined everything.
"Aliza?" Elijah said softly, looking at me from the rear-view mirror. I didn't look at him, nor did I feel like responding, but I still hummed.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his tone full of concern. I felt an immense guilt pierce my heart, realizing that this man, who I had rejected saying that I wasn't ready for a relationship, had found out that I was dating someone else. This man had been humiliated by someone close to me, and yet what he was worried about was how I was doing.
"I guess," I nodded. "I'm sorry for what happened."
"It's no big deal," he shook his head, smiling.
"And I'm sorry for not being open about Shadrach and telling you the truth. He's just so..."
"Complicated," Elijah nodded. "I understand. It's okay. You do not owe me anything, Aliza. It's completely fine."
"Still, I should've been more-"
"Really. You didn't. It's okay," he said, cutting me off.
"Thank you," I said softly. "Rach?"
"Yeah?" She asked.
"Will you... Will you to back to Paris with me?" I asked softly, tears once again pricking my vision.
"Anything you need, Liza," she smiled.
"Call Dad now. Tell him to arrange tickets for tonight. I can't stay here now," I shook my head.
"Are you sure about this, Aliza?" Elijah asked, not turning around to look at me.
"Yes," I replied. "I wanna go as far away from him as possible."
- - - - - -